Bucks power forward Gooden gets spring back in his step

Journal Sentinel files

St. Francis - Drew Gooden never really got started on his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

By late November and early December, he was struggling with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, an injury that caused him to miss 41 games.

The 6-foot-10 power forward never found his groove and wound up playing just 35 games, by far the fewest in his nine pro seasons.

But Gooden has high hopes for something better in the abbreviated 66-game regular season that the Bucks will open Dec. 26 in Charlotte.

"My goal was to finish my 10th consecutive camp and not miss it," Gooden said after the Bucks' workout Tuesday at the Cousins Center. "So far, it's been good for me.

"I'm not going to lie. I still feel pain, either in my foot or in other areas. But I'm continuing to push through it, and I'm out here playing."

Gooden, 6-10 Ersan Ilyasova and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute give the Bucks a productive trio of power forwards, and the 6-8 Mbah a Moute also can swing to small forward.

Milwaukee signed Gooden to a five-year, $32 million contract in the 2010, when he was the first free agent signed by an NBA team.

Bucks management heard some criticism for committing to a long-term deal with Gooden, who had been with nine teams in the previous eight years.

And the Bucks' best-laid plans for a dynamic power duo of Gooden and center Andrew Bogut never had a chance last season, given the injuries to both players.

During this training camp, Gooden's teammates have raved about his weight loss and the way he looks, and he has displayed a definite bounce on the practice court.

The 30-year-old said he weighs 236 pounds, down 16 pounds from his usual 252. And he was heftier than that at times last season.

"I got up to about 265 last year with the injury and not being able to run, and I was in that (protective) boot," Gooden said. "And with all the good restaurants in Milwaukee, let's not forget about that.

"I remember I stepped on that scale and I was like, 'Whoa.' I'm 30 pounds lighter than that, and I feel good."

Gooden said he didn't do anything special during the lockout but knew he had to stay in shape.

"I was so leery about the lockout, and you hear so many horror stories about guys who aren't in shape, that it was on my conscience every day when I woke up," Gooden said.

"Last year I got hurt, but I shed that off. I haven't been this light since my second year in the NBA."

Gooden said he entered the league at 227 pounds with Memphis in 2002.

"They said I was too small to play the power forward so they stuck me on the wing," Gooden said with a laugh. "Then last year I was a backup center and they said I was too big. So I guess I have to find a happy medium."

Gooden joins Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer, who lost 20-plus pounds during the lockout and is much fitter for the start to his team's season.

"I don't drink juices and sodas, strictly water, and I think that helps out a lot," Gooden said. "You've got to hydrate yourself."

Skiles said he doesn't know what his playing rotation will look like, particularly with Mbah a Moute not having practiced with the team. But the coach has been impressed with Gooden's play in camp.

"He's obviously in much better shape than at this point last year," Skiles said. "Anybody that has lost that type of weight is going to feel a lot better and have a lot more energy, and he does."

Skiles said Gooden and Ilyasova also could get some playing time at center behind Bogut, depending on matchups.

"Usually these situations play themselves out naturally and you find out who plays well together," Skiles said. "We're trying to find that out now.

"Obviously we've got limited time this year. We've got to take a real good look . . . and make decisions accordingly."

Tough recovery: Rookie forward Tobias Harris and second-year forward Larry Sanders became so dehydrated after Sunday's long practice that they had to be hospitalized.

And they were kept at a local hospital Sunday and Monday to make sure they were recovering properly. Skiles said he thought they would be released from the hospital at some point later Tuesday.

"They probably won't do much (Wednesday) and might not be able to go until Thursday or Friday," Skiles said.

The Bucks practiced with just 12 players Tuesday and also were missing veteran Stephen Jackson, who was out with back spasms.

Skiles said he didn't know how long Jackson would be out. The veteran guard had practiced three straight days despite a left hamstring injury and lower back pain.

Mbah a Moute, a native of Cameroon, signed his four-year, $18.7 million contract Tuesday but was unable to practice until obtaining a proper visa. The Bucks matched Denver's offer sheet to the restricted free agent Saturday.

"I've got to wait (to practice) until either I extend my visa or I have to get a new one," Mbah a Moute said. "I thank God for what's happened to me. I worked hard for it. I have a good relationship with people here."